May 28, 2025: A memorial for the 26 people killed in the horrific terror attack at Baisaran, close to Pahalgam, South Kashmir, last month has been established, according to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. As a permanent remembrance and reminder that the 26 innocent souls lost would never be forgotten, he said, "We have been talking about this since day one – a memorial will be erected up in Baisaran for them."
“The Public Works Department was authorized to grant in-principal approval for this memorial,” the Chief Minister stated at a meeting of travel and tour companies from all over the nation.
In order to make sure the memorial is both majestic and respectful, he said recommendations would be sought. "I thank each and every one of you for coming to Pahalgam and supporting the resurrection of tourism," he said, thanking the visiting tour operators. During the most difficult periods, when even locals were afraid to leave the Valley, many of you brought tourism back to the area.
Omar described how the Valley's tourism industry peaked in the early 1990s when groups from Gujarat and Mumbai returned, contributing to the sad events of April 22. "However vehemently we denounce what transpired that day, it will never be sufficient. The families of those 26 fatalities have no words to console them. All we can do is bow our heads in remembrance of them.
Abdullah emphasized the necessity of stringent measures while admitting security challenges. "I think what happened should never have happened, even though we do not have complete control over the security system. We have to take every precaution to make sure it does not occur again.
He said that the process of reopening tourist attractions after the Balisaran incident would start gradually in the days ahead. "To gain confidence and evaluate the issue, I went to Betaab Valley myself. Some locations will progressively reopen, but not all of them will do so simultaneously.
In order to evaluate Amarnath Yatra preparations, Omar also went to Nunwan base camp on Tuesday. He spoke with local officials and emphasized the significance of coordination in guaranteeing the comfort and safety of pilgrims. An unplanned bicycle journey from a nearby hotel to Nunwan Base Camp and back followed his visit to Betaab Valley, highlighting recent efforts by the Tourism Department.